This past week has been quite a roller coaster - mostly up but a bit down too.
Last Sunday I had an urgent agenda after church. When my music pastor asked me to sing a solo part in the Christmas Eve services, I was pleased and excited. Then reality hit me.
I don't have a dress.
Our Christmas Eve services are huge affairs, with all the bling a girl can ask for. Rarely do I sing Christmas Eve and the few times I have it has been in the loft, where it is mainly important to have bling on the upper half. Black pants or a black skirt usually work fine otherwise.
However, as a soloist, it is imperitive that I have a dress that meets certain criteria.
1. The dress must be long
2. The dress must have plenty of sparkle
3. The dress must be modest (it is in church after all)
4. The dress must have a jacket or sleeves - no bare shoulders or arms
It was a bit daunting to realize that I was going to have to go shopping for a long dress in the midst of the season - meaning it would be highly unlikely that there'd be anything on sale and anything less than $200.
Ouch!
Checked out several stores over the weekend and then shuffled my way to Dillard's Sunday and figured I'd have to bite the bullet eventually.
Came out with a great dress.
#1 - check
#2 - check
#3 - check
#4 - check
Budget - priceless
No seriously, I came out of there spending less than $50 on a beautiful turquoise blue dress on sale in my size. How about them apples?
Then onto the remainder of the week. Previously I mentioned the Salon Fair and taking first place in the hair show. What an incredible surprise! I still can't get over that one.
Wednesday night I came home to an email from the music pastor asking me to do another reading in services this morning. Great scripture reading from Romans 8 - loved it!
Then Thursday I felt it coming on. All day I was just absolutely exhausted. Tried to chalk it up to the let down after all of the stress from the hair show and such, but deep down I knew it was about to catch up to me. Thursday night was critique and it was great seeing everyone there for the first time in awhile (and just before the season gets crazy).
Friday morning brought the worst sore throat I can remember in some time. Made it at school until about 1:30 then I had to pack it in. Spent the majority of the weekend in bed and snoozing away the time. Never do I like getting sick. Typically I always get on my own nerves after laying around the house for a day or two, watching the laundry grow and the dishes pile up on the counter.
Hey, it's hard keeping a good woman down!
Needless to say, I've tried to somewhat enjoy this down time. Read a few books and watched a movie that I haven't seen in years. Made it through services and the reading this morning but hurried home and back to bed.
Feeling a bit better this evening. Fever is down again and I'm hoping to be back in the saddle for school tomorrow. My son has an early morning for tomorrow so he's busy getting ready for it all. I can also be thankful that I'm getting the junk out of the way before Thanksgiving and Christmas this year instead of being down during one of the holidays. That's never fun.
So I'm just about to get off the roller coaster I think. Funny - I always did like the downhill rush better than the uphill clickety-clack ride.
Guess I'll appreciate whatever comes for the remainder of 2010.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Shopping, Soundtracks, and Sixty-six
Christmas shopping has begun enormously, extremely, and terribly late this year in our little household. But because of the tardiness of my annual trek, I've been looking at Amazon for some ideas. I found something absolutely amazing.
The soundtrack to Band of Brothers.
Read the book - watched the HBO series on DVD that a friend of mine had. The one thing about the series that haunted me every time we watched an episode was the music. Incredible!
So call me stunned when I came across it on Amazon. It now sits comfortably on my wish list just waiting for Santa to bring it to me (okay, okay - so I'm Santa - I'm still getting it in my stocking!).
Looks like alot of my Christmas shopping will be through Amazon this year. At the moment, I barely have time to breathe, much less shop. Friday I had neither breakfast nor lunch and squeezed in a little dinner on my way home from work by going through a drive-thru (my son left on a weekend camping trip).
You'd think I'd be losing some weight with all the meals I've missed in the new job - but I digress.
So I've told my sisters (hint, hint AGAIN if you're reading this) that I'll be doing CD's and DVD's for the nieces and nephews this year. Really anything that I can find through Amazon because I don't see myself getting out into the stores anytime soon. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just think of all the dollars I'll be saving by not driving around and burning up gasoline. Plus on Amazon you get free shipping.
What more could a girl ask for - ah, one of my two favorite four-letter words - FREE!
Anything right now to make the shopping process a little easier. Now if only I could get my son to start making his list and checking it twice. Sixty-six more shopping days left!
How's your Christmas list?
The soundtrack to Band of Brothers.
Read the book - watched the HBO series on DVD that a friend of mine had. The one thing about the series that haunted me every time we watched an episode was the music. Incredible!
So call me stunned when I came across it on Amazon. It now sits comfortably on my wish list just waiting for Santa to bring it to me (okay, okay - so I'm Santa - I'm still getting it in my stocking!).
Looks like alot of my Christmas shopping will be through Amazon this year. At the moment, I barely have time to breathe, much less shop. Friday I had neither breakfast nor lunch and squeezed in a little dinner on my way home from work by going through a drive-thru (my son left on a weekend camping trip).
You'd think I'd be losing some weight with all the meals I've missed in the new job - but I digress.
So I've told my sisters (hint, hint AGAIN if you're reading this) that I'll be doing CD's and DVD's for the nieces and nephews this year. Really anything that I can find through Amazon because I don't see myself getting out into the stores anytime soon. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just think of all the dollars I'll be saving by not driving around and burning up gasoline. Plus on Amazon you get free shipping.
What more could a girl ask for - ah, one of my two favorite four-letter words - FREE!
Anything right now to make the shopping process a little easier. Now if only I could get my son to start making his list and checking it twice. Sixty-six more shopping days left!
How's your Christmas list?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
In Shoe Heaven
Talked about shoes earlier this week in my post. Guess I've got shoes on the brain - tee hee!
Not surprising. The past week I've been hunting down bargains and finding absolute steals. My wardrobe needs boosts in major ways before I can start the new job, particularly in the shoe category.
For years now I've been desirous of taking myself out on a shopping spree. It's been countless years since I've allowed myself that guilty pleasure. First we were saving for the new house and the furniture, not to mention trying to keep my son in clothes and shoes of his own. Then the Europe trip popped up on the radar.
Then before I could recover from the multiple shocks to the savings account, our office was closed and the gang and I were laid off.
So much for a shopping spree.
From the moment my son received notification of his Europe travels, I planned to take money out of savings and treat myself while he was gone. Then the layoff. Never imagined I'd be out of work so long. Figured I'd have a job again before June rolled around and my son skipped out on a plane.
Nope - didn't happen. My hoped for shopping spree was called off indefinitely.
So now that I'm going to be employed again and in the public eye, I needed to update my professional appearance. Found some great bargains on beautiful jackets and slacks and even a few dresses. But the thing I've had the most fun with have been the shoes.
Typically I've had one or two pair of black heels (one for dresses and one for slacks), a pair of navy heels, a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of sandals, and a pair of boots. Last year I bought a little pair of red flats, but there's not a whole lot of things I can appropriately wear them with.
Not the case any longer. I've hit the bargain mother-lode in the shoe department!
Got a pair of taupe heels for $5 at Famous Footwear and a pair of tan sandals at Kohl's for $10 (not to mention the adorable purple patent Vera Wang sling-backs for $16). Picked up gorgeous black and floral for $20, a pair of black and brown Bini's at Dillard's for $24, and cream eel-skin Ralph Lauren heels for $28. Found a lovely pair of red heels at Penney's, but didn't get quite the bargain on them as the others, but they were still on sale and I had a $10-off coupon to go with it so they were still a great price for in-season. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm set for some time to come.
I almost feel guilty for having so many pairs now, but believe me - I will use each and every one of these in my new job. I've not allowed myself such shoe expenditures since I worked in a retail clothing and shoe establishment before I was even married. That, my friends, was a looooong time ago.
So even though my closet is becoming a shoe haven, I didn't spend a whole lot in the overall scheme of things.
That's where the rubber meets my checkbook - in regard to shoes at least.
Not surprising. The past week I've been hunting down bargains and finding absolute steals. My wardrobe needs boosts in major ways before I can start the new job, particularly in the shoe category.
For years now I've been desirous of taking myself out on a shopping spree. It's been countless years since I've allowed myself that guilty pleasure. First we were saving for the new house and the furniture, not to mention trying to keep my son in clothes and shoes of his own. Then the Europe trip popped up on the radar.
Then before I could recover from the multiple shocks to the savings account, our office was closed and the gang and I were laid off.
So much for a shopping spree.
From the moment my son received notification of his Europe travels, I planned to take money out of savings and treat myself while he was gone. Then the layoff. Never imagined I'd be out of work so long. Figured I'd have a job again before June rolled around and my son skipped out on a plane.
Nope - didn't happen. My hoped for shopping spree was called off indefinitely.
So now that I'm going to be employed again and in the public eye, I needed to update my professional appearance. Found some great bargains on beautiful jackets and slacks and even a few dresses. But the thing I've had the most fun with have been the shoes.
Typically I've had one or two pair of black heels (one for dresses and one for slacks), a pair of navy heels, a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of sandals, and a pair of boots. Last year I bought a little pair of red flats, but there's not a whole lot of things I can appropriately wear them with.
Not the case any longer. I've hit the bargain mother-lode in the shoe department!
Got a pair of taupe heels for $5 at Famous Footwear and a pair of tan sandals at Kohl's for $10 (not to mention the adorable purple patent Vera Wang sling-backs for $16). Picked up gorgeous black and floral for $20, a pair of black and brown Bini's at Dillard's for $24, and cream eel-skin Ralph Lauren heels for $28. Found a lovely pair of red heels at Penney's, but didn't get quite the bargain on them as the others, but they were still on sale and I had a $10-off coupon to go with it so they were still a great price for in-season. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm set for some time to come.
I almost feel guilty for having so many pairs now, but believe me - I will use each and every one of these in my new job. I've not allowed myself such shoe expenditures since I worked in a retail clothing and shoe establishment before I was even married. That, my friends, was a looooong time ago.
So even though my closet is becoming a shoe haven, I didn't spend a whole lot in the overall scheme of things.
That's where the rubber meets my checkbook - in regard to shoes at least.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Dreaming of a White Christmas
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!
Well I've got two more Christmas presents to buy for extended family and one more to buy for my son.
Time is running out.
No, I'm not one of those kind of people who relish the idea of getting up at 4:00 in the morning to attend the 5:00 door-buster sales the day after Thanksgiving (though I may have to do it this year if my family wants to since they don't know where all the stores are around here). I usually have all my shopping done by the first of November.
There've been a few distractions the last few months. Maybe?
So now that we're getting close to Thanksgiving and I won't have any time next week for shopping purposes (except as they relate to FOOD!), there's a sense of desperation building up. I've just got to finish up this week.
Those crazy Christmas shoppers scare me - or get on my last nerve. I have a tendency to think it is probably more of the later, in all honesty. I've no patience for idiots.
The Christmas season is something I truly relish. Can't help it. I think my secret middle name must be Claus or Kringle. Anyway Christmas is rarely far from my mind no matter the time of year. Therefore I refuse to let idiot impatient shoppers step all over my season of joy.
Which is why I generally boycott stores after Thanksgiving. Don't care about the sales, bargains, or special early-morning discounts.
It's having the time to appreciate the crisp, nose-tingling air - the cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows - carols (why don't people do more of that?) - the beauty of the lights - the hope of Christ.
And if we get a white Christmas, that's just frosting on the cake!
Well I've got two more Christmas presents to buy for extended family and one more to buy for my son.
Time is running out.
No, I'm not one of those kind of people who relish the idea of getting up at 4:00 in the morning to attend the 5:00 door-buster sales the day after Thanksgiving (though I may have to do it this year if my family wants to since they don't know where all the stores are around here). I usually have all my shopping done by the first of November.
There've been a few distractions the last few months. Maybe?
So now that we're getting close to Thanksgiving and I won't have any time next week for shopping purposes (except as they relate to FOOD!), there's a sense of desperation building up. I've just got to finish up this week.
Those crazy Christmas shoppers scare me - or get on my last nerve. I have a tendency to think it is probably more of the later, in all honesty. I've no patience for idiots.
The Christmas season is something I truly relish. Can't help it. I think my secret middle name must be Claus or Kringle. Anyway Christmas is rarely far from my mind no matter the time of year. Therefore I refuse to let idiot impatient shoppers step all over my season of joy.
Which is why I generally boycott stores after Thanksgiving. Don't care about the sales, bargains, or special early-morning discounts.
It's having the time to appreciate the crisp, nose-tingling air - the cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows - carols (why don't people do more of that?) - the beauty of the lights - the hope of Christ.
And if we get a white Christmas, that's just frosting on the cake!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Can I Hear A Hallelujah?
Well Thanksgiving is getting closer each day. My preparations are in full swing. I'M ABOUT TO EXPLODE WITH JOY!
For the last couple of paychecks, I've been stocking up on certain items necessary for my big family Thanksgiving extravaganza - you know, stuff that will go in the freezer or in the pantry. I didn't want to have a heart attack at the last minute with an enormous grocery bill that threatened to put me in the hospital.
So for the last two weeks I've been composing my final grocery push. Took up a freaking entire page. I estimated about how much I should spend just so I was mentally prepared.
After taking my son down to see his dad for the weekend, I decided to go ahead and get the grocery shopping done tonight instead of tomorrow to avoid trying to maneuver an overstuffed cart through the maze that is Wal-mart. Saturday shopping is stressful enough without throwing that into the mix.
I was a little concerned about any freezer items. After the last grocery trip there wasn't an inch to spare in my freezer. We've been trying to eat as much chicken and steak as humanly possible the last two weeks in order to free up a little space. Looking into my cart tonight had me a little worried. I need that new extra fridge/freezer yesterday.
The loaves of bread kept falling off the piled up cart in my final run to the registers. Really needed my son around to help pull while I pushed. Somehow I managed. Think there were a few snickers as I lumbered along - the jerks!
Unloading onto the treadmill took about thirty minutes - well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but the poor cashier was trying to find floor space to put the full bags before I even had my cart emptied at the other end.
I dreaded the total, but thought I just had to be pretty close to my estimate. When I shop, I have a tendency to keep a mental calculation going in my head of the approximate amount I'm spending. Hey, after all these years I can almost determine based upon how full my cart is and how many above average items I throw in.
To my delight the total came to $9.20 less than I had anticipated. Didn't blow my budget. I'm not skimping on anything either. We're going to be eating GOOD!
Can I hear a hallelujah?
For the last couple of paychecks, I've been stocking up on certain items necessary for my big family Thanksgiving extravaganza - you know, stuff that will go in the freezer or in the pantry. I didn't want to have a heart attack at the last minute with an enormous grocery bill that threatened to put me in the hospital.
So for the last two weeks I've been composing my final grocery push. Took up a freaking entire page. I estimated about how much I should spend just so I was mentally prepared.
After taking my son down to see his dad for the weekend, I decided to go ahead and get the grocery shopping done tonight instead of tomorrow to avoid trying to maneuver an overstuffed cart through the maze that is Wal-mart. Saturday shopping is stressful enough without throwing that into the mix.
I was a little concerned about any freezer items. After the last grocery trip there wasn't an inch to spare in my freezer. We've been trying to eat as much chicken and steak as humanly possible the last two weeks in order to free up a little space. Looking into my cart tonight had me a little worried. I need that new extra fridge/freezer yesterday.
The loaves of bread kept falling off the piled up cart in my final run to the registers. Really needed my son around to help pull while I pushed. Somehow I managed. Think there were a few snickers as I lumbered along - the jerks!
Unloading onto the treadmill took about thirty minutes - well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but the poor cashier was trying to find floor space to put the full bags before I even had my cart emptied at the other end.
I dreaded the total, but thought I just had to be pretty close to my estimate. When I shop, I have a tendency to keep a mental calculation going in my head of the approximate amount I'm spending. Hey, after all these years I can almost determine based upon how full my cart is and how many above average items I throw in.
To my delight the total came to $9.20 less than I had anticipated. Didn't blow my budget. I'm not skimping on anything either. We're going to be eating GOOD!
Can I hear a hallelujah?
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Christmas Crazy!
This past week I've made an enormous dent in my Christmas shopping.
Yes, I'm one of THOSE people.
Typically I start my Christmas shopping at the inventory clearance sales in January. Got started a little late this year. Bought my first Christmas gift at the Hotel del Coronado in June when the team and I were out in San Diego for meetings. It was for my mom - she's going to LOVE IT!
Anyway, I picked up a piece of my dad's gift about a month after that. Hadn't done a thing since then. Life has been so crazy with the new job, keeping my son afloat, getting him started in school, his sixteenth birthday, school activities, and now my crazy idea to audition for the Christmas play at church. It just can't get any busier than this right now.
Did I mention that I'm still taking my son out driving - oh, and he's getting a job soon. Oy!
Last weekend when my mom and dad were here for my son's birthday, I commandeered my mother and we went Christmas shopping and looking around for ideas. My strong-arm tactics started to make headway with my sisters and I got some good ideas to work with. So from then through today, I've made a substantial dent in my Christmas shopping.
Can you say bargains??? Sure you can. Man, I just found some of the best deals today at Bed, Bath & Beyond! They have all sorts of stuff marked down to practically nothing. Picked up a Cuisinart rice/food steamer that was normally $80. Got it for next to nothing only because the box had a tear in one silly corner. That's all that was "wrong" with the crazy thing and they clearanced it for pennies on the dollar. Got a foot massager for my sister for a few bucks. Talk about bargain shopping! Can't even begin to run through all the incredible deals I came across. My pocketbook may be a little lighter, but it is still happy.
I only have four more gifts to purchase for extended family and then I'm done along that avenue. Of course my son found some things at BB&B that he wanted too. Need to go back later when he's not in tow and pick those up. Still far from being finished in the venue for my son but at least I've got the process started.
My favorite four-letter words have always been "sale" and "free". Can we classify "clearance" as a four-letter word? Who cares - it's my mantra so far for this year.
Happy Christmas shopping, everyone!
Yes, I'm one of THOSE people.
Typically I start my Christmas shopping at the inventory clearance sales in January. Got started a little late this year. Bought my first Christmas gift at the Hotel del Coronado in June when the team and I were out in San Diego for meetings. It was for my mom - she's going to LOVE IT!
Anyway, I picked up a piece of my dad's gift about a month after that. Hadn't done a thing since then. Life has been so crazy with the new job, keeping my son afloat, getting him started in school, his sixteenth birthday, school activities, and now my crazy idea to audition for the Christmas play at church. It just can't get any busier than this right now.
Did I mention that I'm still taking my son out driving - oh, and he's getting a job soon. Oy!
Last weekend when my mom and dad were here for my son's birthday, I commandeered my mother and we went Christmas shopping and looking around for ideas. My strong-arm tactics started to make headway with my sisters and I got some good ideas to work with. So from then through today, I've made a substantial dent in my Christmas shopping.
Can you say bargains??? Sure you can. Man, I just found some of the best deals today at Bed, Bath & Beyond! They have all sorts of stuff marked down to practically nothing. Picked up a Cuisinart rice/food steamer that was normally $80. Got it for next to nothing only because the box had a tear in one silly corner. That's all that was "wrong" with the crazy thing and they clearanced it for pennies on the dollar. Got a foot massager for my sister for a few bucks. Talk about bargain shopping! Can't even begin to run through all the incredible deals I came across. My pocketbook may be a little lighter, but it is still happy.
I only have four more gifts to purchase for extended family and then I'm done along that avenue. Of course my son found some things at BB&B that he wanted too. Need to go back later when he's not in tow and pick those up. Still far from being finished in the venue for my son but at least I've got the process started.
My favorite four-letter words have always been "sale" and "free". Can we classify "clearance" as a four-letter word? Who cares - it's my mantra so far for this year.
Happy Christmas shopping, everyone!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Back To School Shopping
Well, it's that time of year again. We set aside time today to do my son's back to school clothes shopping. He did good!
Over the last couple of years, he's gotten into a style that is...well NO style. All he would wear was T-shirts and jeans. At least they were nice T-shirts and not a bunch of weird sayings and wicked-looking screen prints. But it just wasn't doing a whole lot for him.
So this year I set aside his allotment and told him he could buy anything he wanted as long as it wasn't T-shirts and jeans. Then I added a caveat that everything he chose had to obtain my seal of approval.
Maybe I've been watching too much "What Not To Wear" shows on TLC.
But anyway, we discussed some ideas the last few weeks and I gave him some guidelines about what would look good on his frame. He's got a very broad chest, no hips, and long skinny legs. It's been a real battle to dress him all his life.
He decided on a variety of cargo pants to compliment the jeans he already owns. Then he got this denim shirt and cuffed up the long sleeves like a jacket over a tee. It looked so awesome on him! He even found this great olive flack jacket that looks soooo cool with the cargoes. There's a variety of colored button shirts he can either wear alone or with a tee. We even found this black Calvin Klein shirt (on sale!!!) that is tailored and fits him like a glove.
Tomorrow we're going to try out a black vest that he wanted really bad but they didn't have his size at the east store. They called the west store and they're holding it for us to stop by tomorrow after church. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it looks on him tomorrow.
And miracle of miracles, he even picked out a polo shirt that he really liked. I used to dress him in cute polos when he was younger. He'd gone through a period where he refused to wear any, so I stopped buying them. It's really good to see him trying a new (old) style again, especially when he looks so nice in them.
Maybe someday I'll find a style again too.
Over the last couple of years, he's gotten into a style that is...well NO style. All he would wear was T-shirts and jeans. At least they were nice T-shirts and not a bunch of weird sayings and wicked-looking screen prints. But it just wasn't doing a whole lot for him.
So this year I set aside his allotment and told him he could buy anything he wanted as long as it wasn't T-shirts and jeans. Then I added a caveat that everything he chose had to obtain my seal of approval.
Maybe I've been watching too much "What Not To Wear" shows on TLC.
But anyway, we discussed some ideas the last few weeks and I gave him some guidelines about what would look good on his frame. He's got a very broad chest, no hips, and long skinny legs. It's been a real battle to dress him all his life.
He decided on a variety of cargo pants to compliment the jeans he already owns. Then he got this denim shirt and cuffed up the long sleeves like a jacket over a tee. It looked so awesome on him! He even found this great olive flack jacket that looks soooo cool with the cargoes. There's a variety of colored button shirts he can either wear alone or with a tee. We even found this black Calvin Klein shirt (on sale!!!) that is tailored and fits him like a glove.
Tomorrow we're going to try out a black vest that he wanted really bad but they didn't have his size at the east store. They called the west store and they're holding it for us to stop by tomorrow after church. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it looks on him tomorrow.
And miracle of miracles, he even picked out a polo shirt that he really liked. I used to dress him in cute polos when he was younger. He'd gone through a period where he refused to wear any, so I stopped buying them. It's really good to see him trying a new (old) style again, especially when he looks so nice in them.
Maybe someday I'll find a style again too.
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